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Bike-packing route: Spey Bay and along the Moray coast

Written by Fiona

July 30 2020

Friends Karen Powell and Maggie Creber headed to the north-east coast of Scotland to bike-pack through Moray and Aberdeenshire. They enjoyed a relaxed pace over four days and wild camped.

Karen, who runs Highland Pilates and Nordic Walking, said: “I have no idea of the mileage that we covered. Our intention was just to ride and to see how far we got each day, swim in the sea or anywhere else we could find, then find a scenic wild camping spot.

“We took our time, stopping, enjoying the views, watching the birds, chatting to the incredibly friendly and open locals along the coast and eating raspberries.”

The friends also report that they attempted to travel lighter than they normally might. Karen said: “We did our best with trying to travel light. My kit is not the lightest and most modern, but I do have a great Terra Nova Solar Minor tent from the 90s that I still use. We took all our own food, but stopped in cafes when we could find them.”

Moray coast bike-packing trip

Start: Spey Bay. (They left their vehicles at The Dolphin Centre after asking if it was ok to do so.)

Day one: Spey Bay to MacDuff

The pair followed the Moray Coastal Trail, with sections of off-road and small roads all the way.

Karen said: “We had a tailwind all day. We had ice creams at Cullen and fish and chips at the The Galley in Whitehills. We camped on grassy patch above the old deserted Tarlair swimming pool.”

Day two: MacDuff to Fraserburgh

Karen said: “There were steep climbs all day on this section. We visited all the small harbours, including Gardenstown, Crovie and Pennan.”

The route took them along the coastal trail to Crovie and on to an off-road grassy track uphill towards Troup Head, where they rejoined the road. 

Karen added: “From there, we rode to Cullykhan Bay – there’s a nice café – and then down to Pennan, where they filmed Local Hero.”

After that, the route went back uphill to the B9031, then turn right to minor road, along to Rosehearty, Sandhaven and Fraserburgh.

They camped on the dunes at Fraserburgh Bay.

Day three: Fraserburgh to Huntly

After an early morning dip in sea, Karen and Maggie set off in drizzle on to the Formatine and Buchan Way, which is located on a former railway line. They rode south to Strichen – again they found a nice cafe – and then left the Way to head on a Sustrans Route 1 going west to Turiff.

They followed the B9024/ B9001/A97 to Huntly. 

The friends camped on the grass next to River Deveron.

Day four – Huntly to Spey Bay

Departing Hunty, Karen and Maggie cycled to Dufftown on the A920. Karen said: “We enjoyed scones and coffee in the square in the sunshine.”

The ride took them to Craigellachie, where they joined the Speyside Way to ride off-road back to Spey Bay.

Karen said: “We ended our short trip with a fire on the beach, while watching dolphins and drinking a fine bottle of red wine.

“It was a fabulous wee trip, building more wonderful memories.”

Other ideas in this area: Driving tour of North East 250.

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